Former Berkley Resident Serves as North American International Auto Show Director

The  kicks off today in Detroit and, while the event is global in scope, it has at least one tie to Berkley.

Rod Alberts, who serves as NAIAS executive director and urges suburban residents to go downtown for the event, lived in Berkley during the 1990s and fondly recalls his time as a resident.

"I absolutely love Berkley," Alberts said. "It's not like living in a Metro area – it's like a small town."

That tight-knit atmosphere was something Alberts, who grew up in a Missouri community of approximately 20,000, coveted. Alberts said that 20 years ago, he moved to an apartment in Troy for work, but began to look for a city with more of a hometown feel.

"I fell in love with the downtown," said Alberts, who moved to Berkley in 1993.

"The Berkley theater was still there. I saw A River Runs Through It," he said. "I walked there from my house on Kenmore and I just remember thinking: This is just great."

Eventually, Alberts said, he got married and decided in 1998 to move to Bloomfield Hills to be closer to his office. He remains nostalgic.

"I still drive through (Berkley) and sometimes wish I were there," he said.

Fondness aside, Alberts encourages Berkley and Huntington Woods residents to make the 20-minute trip downtown to check out the auto show – and all the good things going on in Detroit.

"We're still part of the larger Metro Detroit area. There's a lot of things to offer in Detroit," he said. "Detroit's got a real heart and a real history to it."

Besides great culture and restaurants, Alberts said, the city also hosts the auto show, which shines a global spotlight on Metro Detroit and includes:

• 40 worldwide vehicle unveilings.
• displays valued at $250 million that have been under construction since November.
• 5,000 media members from around the world coming in town to cover the event.

"All that is right here within 20 minutes of Berkley. It's a show comparable to Geneva," he said. "Don't take for granted that we have one of the best shows in the world right in our own back yard."

North American International Auto Show

When: press preview Monday and Tuesday; industry preview Wednesday and Thursday; charity preview Friday; public show Jan. 14-22

Where: Cobo Center, One Washington Blvd., Detroit, MI 48226

Why go: Feast your eyes on more than 500 vehicles from exhibitors, including hometown favorites General Motors, Ford and Chrysler, as well as more exotic auto manufacturers such as Aston Martin, Ferrari, Lamborghini and Tesla. Visitors also will be able to get behind the wheel on the quarter-mile indoor Pure Michigan Ride and Drive Track.

Cost:

• Adults: $12 per person
• E-tickets: $12 per person
• Any day pass, group ticket: $8 with a purchase of 30 tickets or more
• Seniors: $6 (65 and older)
• Children: $6 (7-12 years old; 6 and younger free with a parent or guardian)

What else: Visit www.naias.com, "like" the NAIAS on Facebook or follow it on Twitter for more information.

Tell us about you!

We'd like to hear from other folks in the community who are involved with the North American International Auto Show.

Perhaps you helped design one of the vehicles, as ? Maybe you know a student whose artwork will be part of the show like that of ? Or, perhaps you have snagged much-coveted tickets to the charity preview?

We want to hear about it! Email Berkley Patch Editor Leslie Ellis at leslie.ellis@patch.com to share your story. Come back Friday for a complete visitor's guide to the show – and feel free to drop us a line and let us know what you'd like to know before you go!